...T-Pot China Bistro (Calgary)

When we were kids, my brother and I would always ask our parents to take us to either Pizza Hut, Swiss Chalet or Macdonalds. Invariably the answer would be a brisk shake of the head and we'd be off for another Chinese meal. We always thought it was due to both cheapness and a reluctance to try new things that stood between my brother and I and our rotisserie chicken but as I get older I see myself following the same patterns. So late on a Friday night when my hunger started to kick up I found myself not at Swiss Chalet but at T-Pot China Bistro.

Late at night nothing satisfies an appetite like a hot steaming bowl of rice noodles topped with tender braised brisket. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the meat was tender and melt in the mouth. With a price tag of only $5.95 its no wonder my parents would prefer this over pizza time and again.

Up next was Chinese fried chicken served with 5-spice salt. Again KFC has nothing on this fried chicken. Unlike it's fast food counter part the chicken pieces here were actually recognizable. For only $13.00 for half a chicken, this moist, tender and flavorful chicken dish is a must have.

To cap off the evening, a 'Yin Yang Coffee' hits the spot. This mixture of tea, coffee and sweetened condensed milk although seemingly a strange combination I bet will one day start showing up on the menu boards of Starbucks.